A/N: I didn't clarify earlier, but they weren't traveling from Ohio. They're originally from there, but they were coming from Montana. (That's where the Vulcan first contact was in the movie First Contact.) I have the trio originating from Ohio because that's where I'm from.
All the cast will appear in one way or another. It's Spock/Kirk, with eventual Sulu/Chekov, Scotty/Uhura, and onesided Spock/Stonn.
Summary: Looking back, Jim could tell it had been an utterly ridiculous idea with little hope of success. Of course, that's why he had decided to do it. Jim Kirk always beat the odds, even if he had to pass himself off as a Vulcan to do it. A Star Trek Story loosely based off the idea of A Knights Tale.
Jim, Bones, and Sulu watched with bated breath and obvious nerves as Uhura went to present the patents of nobility, and deliver the oral history the group had invented. She waved her hands about in flourish and the Vulcans appeared to be fascinated enough, but none of the trio could hear what was being said. It wasn't until Uhura was walking back towards them with a grin that Jim managed to suck in a breath, albeit painfully. Her smile was large and promised all the things that Jim had barely hoped for.
"I can't believe it," Bones mumbled. Jim silently agreed with the shock clear in his voice. He hadn't fully believed it would work either, despite his (forced) calm.
Jim immediately shuffled forward and tried to keep his face as neutral as a Vulcan. "I have to thank you, Uhura."
She laughed, a melodic sound that suited her dark beauty extremely well. "I have to say, I was a little nervous myself. Good job with the face. Nice to know our practice paid off."
And they had practiced. During the entire two week journey. Jim had forced his face to remain calm while the others did everything they could think of to elicit an emotional response. They told jokes , poked fun, reminded him of painful past events, and tripped him. By the time they reached the town Jim could control his face, if not his emotions, remarkably well.
"Jim?" Uhura questioned, biting her bottom lip nervously. Jim returned her gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah?".
"Would you mind if I stick around and see how everything turns out? If you'll have me that is?"
Jim bit back a toothy smile. "It would be my genuine honor, Uhura. As long as these two nuts don't have a problem, you're welcome to stay."
"Of course!" Bones intoned. "Anything so we don't have to stare at Jimbo all day long." He gave Uhura a playful wink. "You're much easier on the eyes." Uhura laughed again while Sulu shook his head.
"Cool it, old boy. Yes, please stay. Don't leave with these mad people." Uhura bumped Sulu's shoulder in a friendly manner and smiled at everyone.
"Thank you so much. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some… supplies I need to get," She smiled once more before turning and walking away.
Jim let out a quiet breath and stood a little straighter. The heaviness since he'd started this crazy scheme lightened a bit. They were here, they were in, and he looked like a Vulcan. Against all odds this completely mental plan was actually working.
"Alright, boy," Bones drew Jim's attention back to him with a wave of his hand. Jim almost grinned before he caught himself.
Good lord being a Vulcan was hard.
"Yeah?"
"We need you to get these items," Sulu handed Jim a list while Bones continued, "while Su-"
Don't call me Su!"
"While Su and I get the tent slot."
"Am I allowed to be out shopping? Won't that be suspicious?" Bones rolled his eyes at Jim's thin excuse.
"No. Walk I-Cheya as an excuse if you want one. Point is we need the stuff and you have to get it. You're not allowed to get the tent slot. That's 'servants' work."
"Right. I'll be back in a bit then. The first match is at two, right?"
"Yeah, that's three hours from now. Okay?"
"Got it." Jim bid his friends ado and went to the market riding I-Cheya who was excited to be out for a walk where he wasn't dragging a cart loaded with odds and ends.
And then it happened and Jim forgot everything. Thankfully I-Cheya knew how to move without his aid, or Jim would have probably fallen of the sehlat.
It was the fault of a Vulcan, granted, it was an incredible Vulcan, but it was a Vulcan none the less. That should have made Jim more upset, but it didn't. Probably because the Vulcan was incredibly handsome. The Vulcan in question was directly in front of him, and was tall as he was pale. He had raven hair that was perfectly coiffed in the braid of someone that was not bonded (yippee!). Upon seeing the handsome figure Jim had the immediate feeling that he recognized the Vulcan, though he knew he had never before seen him. Jim would have remembered seeing him. He was more of a dark angel than a Vulcan though.
Then, like some moment in one of those ridiculous romance novels that the girl servants would read, the dark angel looked Jim's way. A heart beat passed and the angel met Jim's eyes.
Jim promptly forgot how to breathe.
Jim was supposed to be shopping for… well, something. It was important too! At least, Jim was fairly certain it was important. He couldn't really remember his name, let alone what he had been shopping for.
Jim wouldn't have been able to speak just from the beauty of the Vulcan. But his bodies beauty was nothing compared to his eyes.
Sable, some part of his mind informed Jim. It was a brown color, but that was nowhere near descriptive enough for the beauty that was the eyes Jim was looking at. Bits of gold, green, and at least five shades of brown were making the graceful orbs that were allowing Jim the honor of gazing at them. They were deep and rich and dark and knowing, and sad. So terribly, heartbreakingly, wrongly sad. Something in Jim was crying out that he needed to fix that sadness, and fix it now.
And the Vulcan was at least ten meters from Jim.
I-Cheya, the smart beast that he was, took the hint from Jim's utterly stunned gaze and headed towards the Vulcan in question, bringing Jim closer to the object of his attention.
The Vulcan handed a few coins to a merchant and left the table he had been examining with a jar of something and headed into the crowd. I-Cheya kept on his trail, following him through the twisting paths and crowded streets while Jim tried to remember how to breathe.
After at least ten minutes of pursuing, the Vulcan looked over his shoulder and regarded Jim with those tremendous eyes. "Are you following me, Sir Knight?"
"Indeed." Jim was extremely impressed with himself for getting that much out after hearing that voice. It sounded like a Jaguar hiding in a violin. Deep and mysterious and wise and dear God could Jim please hear it again?
"Why?" The Vulcan didn't stop walking, seeming intent on getting wherever he was going.
"Because I cannot stop myself." Jim replied truthfully. He didn't mention the fact that I-Cheya was actually leading Jim at the moment.
The Vulcan's eyebrow raised in surprise and something about his gaze seemed to soften ever so slightly. And Jim really needed to find out what he was called so he didn't keep calling him 'the Vulcan' because that did absolutely no justice to this masterful figure.
"Would you tell me your name?"
The Vulcan turned his head down and away from Jim, as though he were hiding his expression. He waited a moment before returning his gaze. "And what would you do with my name? You may as well call me a Le-Matya. For that is all I am to you, a hunt."
"Le-Matya? Then a Le-Matya you shall be until I find out your name. My beautiful Le-Matya."
And then it happened. The Vulcan's eyes crinkled around the edges and Jim realized that he was smiling without moving his mouth. Excitement and happiness welled up in Jim's stomach in equal parts. "Indeed?"
Jim was enjoying this playful banter far more than it warranted. A little too much. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Nor, apparently, was I-Cheya. The Vulcan led them right to the palace. Not that Jim noticed they were at the palace. He was far too caught up in the nameless Vulcan.
A small, wiry, brown haired boy with large eyes approached the Vulcan and stood by his side as if he belonged there. "Sir, who is zis man?"
"I do not know, Chekov. He is-" Jim didn't get a chance to hear the rest of the statement as two Vulcan's emerged from the grounds and came at him with Lirpas raised.
"You dare desecrate the palace?"
Oops. I-Cheya backed up with a growl.
"Your name?" Jim called out as I-Cheya turned to leave. The Vulcan did his not-grin again and shook his head.
"I am afraid you shall have to hunt for it, Sir Knight." Jim grinned as I-Cheya galloped away. This would be fun.
"Jim! There you are! Did you get the items off the list?" Bones crowded Jim the minute he arrived back at the tournament grounds. He handed the items over to Bones with a vacant nod. The items were why he was almost late. He'd ridden all the way back before realizing he had forgotten them.
Sulu studied him while Bones gathered the bags of items. "Why do you have that look on your face?"
"What look?" Jim parroted back out of habit. Sulu narrowed his eyes.
"That look. The one you get whenever you fancy someone." Well… Jim was a little too readable or he'd been living with these guys too long. He kind of believed it was the later.
"Damn. Sulu, you're right. Who is it, Jimmy boy?"
"No idea what you two are talking about. Now come on. I've got ten minutes to get into this armor."
Bones shuffled forward and helped Jim don the bulky breastplate. "Fine, but don't think this is over." He continued to mutter as he put pieces on Jim. Things like: 'Only here for five minutes,' 'can't take you anywhere,' 'stupid kids and their hormones,' and Jim's personal favorite; 'can't leave you alone for a Kansas second.' That was Jim's favorite because he had no idea what it was. He'd even asked a fellow servant that was from Kansas. He half suspected that Bones made up his many phrases.
Sulu helped Jim onto I-Cheya, who grumbled about Jim's extra weight, and then handed him his lance. "Remember to keep it in the cradle and stay on your sehlat. We cannot lose I-Cheya." I-Cheya huffed as though he was agreeing with that statement.
"Don't worry guys, it'll work. I've got this." Bones gave him a nervous smile and nodded his head.
"Yeah, good luck. And remember, I can only patch you back up so much."
Jim snorted before putting his helmet on, being careful of his ears. "Yeah, thanks." It only took him a moment to get to the starting point. This was the part of jousting Jim didn't care for. He hated the waiting. It allowed tension to build, and panic to start. When he was actually riding, it was fine, but the waiting got to him every. Single. Time.
An announcer came out and declared that Sir T'Laon of Gilalan was his opponent. The announcer went on to describe how wonderful the Vulcan was while Jim did his best to drown out the intimidating words. I-Cheya moved between Jim's legs, flexing his muscles and readying himself to take off down the field. Jim could feel the strength and speed in the beast's muscles and they gave him courage. He allowed his mind to focus and closed his eyes for a second. This was when he felt most focused. With his eyes closed, I-Cheya's power beneath him, Jim could focus and see clearly what he needed to do. He had only to wait for the signal before he could claim victory.
The trumpets sounded and I-Cheya took off with a growl of excitement. Jim dropped his lance down from its upward position and got it in the 'cradle,' as the crook between his elbow and chest was called. He held onto it tightly and aimed it at the oncoming Vulcan. He felt no fear, no worry, no panic, no negative emotion at all. All Jim could ever feel when he rode with a lance was a wild freedom. It was something he never wanted to give up. When he rode against another it didn't matter who he was. What his position in life was. It only mattered if he had the courage to face his opponent, the talent to strike, and the resilience to stay on his sehlat.
Jim's success was entirely in his own hands.
The Vulcan neared and Jim adjusted the lance to the left the slightest bit. The weapon's trajectory corrected, it hit home on the Vulcan's shoulder and jarred him. The Vulcan, with the most memorable look of surprise, tumbled off his sehlat.
Jim tilted his head back and let the freedom flood his veins as he yelled out his victory.
A/N: We have Spock! I made Chekov his servant, but we'll find out more about that later. ;) We have a few more main characters to introduce, but we've almost got the stories cast together. :D
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